002
1501 Words
THE MURDERERS
Immediately, Julie grabbed Adrian from the corner and interrupted him. I can't take this anymore. Julie cried on Adrian's arm.
Ariana swiftly snatched the phone from his hand and slipped away before his gaze could return to her.
He held Julie tightly in his arms, his lips brushing the crown of her hair. “I can’t take it anymore,” he whispered, his voice shaking with fake grief. “I’m missing Anna so much.”
But behind his eyes, another storm was brewing. Adrian’s smile wavered, his jaw clenched. The image of that mysterious woman at the press conference gnawed at him. Her walk, her figure—it was almost as if Anna had returned from the grave. The thought clawed at his mind, and though he tried to mask it, fear and anger curled in his chest like a venomous snake.
The moment Ariana ran off, Adrian silently swallowed down his unease. He could not let Julie see his weakness.
Later that evening, Adrian and Julie returned to the mansion. The halls, once filled with Anna’s warmth, now echoed with a hollow chill. They entered Anna’s bedroom—the same room that still smelled faintly of her perfume.
Julie moved with slow, deliberate steps. Her eyes fell on Anna’s framed photograph sitting on the dresser. She picked it up, her fingers tracing the smooth glass. For a second, her expression softened. Then her lips curled into a cruel smile.
“So very rich… so beautiful… and now so very dead and ugly,” Julie sneered.
With a sharp flick of her wrist, she hurled the picture to the floor. The frame shattered, shards scattering across the polished wood. Julie’s laughter rang out, sharp and unkind.
Adrian leaned against the door frame, watching her. A faint grin spread across his lips. “That was quite the show you put on today.”
Julie sauntered toward him, her hips swaying. Her fingertips trailed across his chest, teasing. “You weren’t half bad yourself. Now the Caldwell company is all yours… and you’re all mine.”
Adrian’s smile deepened, but his eyes stayed cold. He leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear. “Not yet. I only get full control when I crack Anna’s safe.”
Julie’s playful expression faltered. She pulled back slightly, frowning. “I can’t believe you didn’t get the code before you threw her off that cliff.”
Adrian’s grip tightened on her waist before he shoved her gently onto the bed. He hovered over her, his voice dripping with irritation. “I assumed you had the code. You were her best friend. Don’t tell me she never gave it to you.”
Julie’s lips pressed into a thin line. “She didn’t give it to you either, did she?”
His silence was the only answer she needed.
“Maybe she didn’t trust her s*x-ambitious husband,” she muttered under her breath.
Adrian’s jaw twitched. He turned his head, his eyes falling on the broken photograph on the floor. Anna’s smile stared back at him through the cracked glass, he remembered the face he had seen in the crowd earlier, the woman who looked just like Anna.
Julie noticed the shift in his expression. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You’re not… missing that stupid b***h, are you?”
Adrian forced a chuckle, his lips curling into a cold smile. “Of course not. But I think I saw her at the press conference.”
Julie’s expression changed. “That’s impossible.” “Nobody could’ve survived that fall. Relax.”
She leaned back toward him, her tone laced with arrogance. “I’ll worry about finding the passcode to the safe. All you have to worry about is satisfying me in bed.”
He crushed his lips against hers, silencing his protests. They both gave in, Julie's hands curling into his shirt.
But just as the heat of the moment thickened, a flicker caught her eye.
Her breath caught in her throat.
A dark shadow shifted in the corner of the room, tall and feminine. The figure stood still, silent, but unmistakably familiar. The outline was Anna’s, her gown, her hair, her presence.
Julie’s eyes widened in horror. She froze beneath Adrian, her body trembling.
Adrian pulled back, annoyed. “What now?”
Julie’s voice cracked into a scream, her finger pointing toward the corner. “I… I just saw Anna in this room!”
Adrian saw how terrified Julie was, her hands shaking as her eyes darted to the corner of the room. He exhaled sharply, forcing a laugh.
“Oh my God, Julie… you’re losing it,” he said, trying to sound amused, though his heart skipped a beat at her trembling voice.
Julie shook her head frantically. “No, Adrian. It was her. She was there. I saw her!”
Adrian stepped closer, gripping her shoulders firmly. “Stop imagining things, okay? You’re letting guilt get into your head.”
Julie’s eyes filled with panic as she whispered, “Adrian… remember… the cops never found Anna’s body.”
His jaw tightened. For a moment, his mind flashed back to the rushing waters below that cursed cliff. “Because it washed down the river,” he snapped. “Julie, come on. You said it yourself, there’s no way she could’ve survived that fall.”
Julie swallowed hard. “I… I was just afraid, that’s all.”
Adrian cupped her cheek, forcing her to meet his gaze. His tone softened, but his eyes stayed cold. “Then get a grip. I need you to stay strong, okay? Play your part at the funeral tomorrow. No weakness.”
Julie nodded faintly.
A crooked smile spread across Adrian’s lips as he stepped back, his voice low and mocking. “I don’t believe in ghosts. But if Anna has one…” His eyes glinted with arrogance. “I dare her to come find me.”
Meanwhile, miles away, Ariana stood in her dimly lit apartment, staring at the flickering candle on her table. Her hand pressed against her chest, tears glistening in her eyes.
Her voice trembled as she whispered into the silence, “Little sister… you barely took your last breath, and already your husband and best friend are sharing your bed.”
Her tears turned into anger, her hands balling into fists. “Your memory deserves so much better than these two. If life can’t give you justice, then justice must be served after death.”
She lifted her head, determination burning in her eyes. “I swear, Anna… I’ll make them pay.”
The next day, the church was draped in black, its bells tolling somberly. Anna’s funeral drew people from every corner of the city. The pews overflowed with mourners, their whispers filling the sacred hall like restless shadows.
Adrian stood at the front, dressed in a tailored black suit, his face the picture of grief. Julie clung to his side, her black veil hiding the smirk that threatened to betray her. In their hands, they each carried flowers, carefully chosen to play their parts.
Adrian stepped forward first, his voice heavy with false sorrow. “Anna, my wife… my angel… my love.” He paused, lowering his head dramatically as the cameras clicked. “Your heart made this world a better place every day of your twenty-six short years.” His hand lingered on the coffin before placing the flowers gently on top. “Rest in peace, my sweet darling.”
Julie followed, her voice breaking on cue. “My dearest friend…” She sniffled, her hand clutching her chest. “…I’ll spend every waking moment wishing you were here with me.”
Some mourners wiped their tears at the sight, whispering about their touching words.
Ms. Lucy, Anna’s old nursemaid, who had cared for her since she was a child. Her hands trembled as she clutched a small white rose. She stood before the coffin, her eyes red with grief. “My Anna…” she whispered, her voice cracking. “…you’ll always be in my heart.”
Her body shook with sobs, and she nearly collapsed. Adrian rushed forward, putting on his performance for all to see. He gently supported her by the arm. “It’s time we all accept that she’s gone,” he said firmly, his voice echoing in the hushed church. “Time we move on with our lives.”
He looked up, his expression suddenly hardening into one of pride and control. “In honor of my late wife, I will be stepping in as the CEO of Caldwell Company.”
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. The shareholders in attendance exchanged glances, some whispering in agreement, others uneasy with his bold claim.
But before Adrian could continue, a clear, commanding voice cut through the silence.
“I object!”
The entire hall froze.
Dozens of heads turned sharply toward the doors.
And in that instant, every eye widened, every breath caught in stunned disbelief. Adrian’s face went pale.
- Writer
